The Milano set down on a rocky shore beside a blue-purple lake. Peter Quill sat for a moment, staring out of the window. He shook his head and ran a hand through his greying hair as he stood. He was tired. For nearly twenty years now, he had been running around the galaxy, doing his best to stop villains from killing people. He succeeded in most cases, but had lost things far more precious.
"I am Groot." His old friend put a hand on his shoulder.
Peter nodded. "I'm fine. I think it's time to retire, though."
"I am Groot?"
"I don't know." Peter stretched the kinks from his back and pulled on his old Ravanger's jacket. The thing was full of holes, most of them from weapons, and really it was a piece of junk, but since Yondu's death, it had taken on a strange comforting role to him. "Maybe get a little farm. Just stop being Star Lord and start being Peter Quill again. Maybe I'll go back to earth."
Groot's head hung as Pete walked past him. "I am Groot."
Peter paused. "You don't have to stay with me. You could go out and have your own adventures. Go find a she-tree and make little baby trees."
"I am Groot."
"I didn't catch that one."
Groot shrugged, and the two headed out of the Milano. It had been just the two of them for five years now, since Rocket had died, an elderly and long-lived racoon. He had been snarky and sarcastic until the very end. His last words to Peter were, "Try not to get yourself killed without me." Drax had disappeared some years before that. In a drunken rage one night he vowed to kill Thanos and took off before the others could stop him. They hadn't heard or seen anything of him since, and Peter could only assume he was dead.
As for Gamora? Well. He had heard enough rumours to know that she was alive, and that Thanos hadn't gotten his hands on her again. And once he knew that, he knew that she was serious about not wanting to be with him anymore, and stopped looking for her.
"So what do you want to do, buddy?" Peter asked to get his mind off their missing companions. "Wanna go do something important, or just get a drink at the bar?"
Groot frowned. He tapped Peter's head. "I am Groot."
"So what if I haven't had food yet today? They serve food at bars."
"I am Groot."
Peter smiled at his friend and slapped him on the back. "Alright. You win. No bars. Now, let's see if we can keep a low profile here, okay? I don't want to be hounded by people looking for their lost pets, or local gangs assuming we're here to shut them down. Just a nice, off-the-radar visit to a nice, off-the-radar planet."
Groot smiled and nodded. The two of them headed out onto the new world. It was a well-known place for refugees to end up on, this world, known by different names in all corners of the galaxy. Personally, Peter liked Greenworld the best. It was just so plain and unimaginative! The name made it sound unassuming and simple. As he and Groot walked through the streets, he saw species of all shapes, colours and configurations. Groot turned a few heads, but nobody stared, which meant they got all sorts of strange ones around.
Peter slowly relaxed, thumbing the old Walkman in his pocket. It had broken down ages ago, and he had never bothered to fix it or build a new one. There was just something about his mom's awesome mix that never felt right after Gamora left. If he was honest with himself, it was a relief that the old thing broke. He still carried it around with him, though, as a reminder.
At a street vender, Peter bought Groot and himself some sort of deep-fried batter. As they continued along, a young woman with her eyes glued on a holopad in her hands bumped into him. She looked up, startled.
"I'm sorry!" She stumbled a little and Peter gripped her arm to keep her steady. She smiled. There was once a time that a smile like that would turn his head.
"Maybe you should pay attention to where you're going," Peter told her crossly.
"Of course." The woman nodded. Black tousled curls fell into her face, and there was something hauntingly familiar about her blue eyes. She gave him another grin. "Say, it's not every day that I meet a Guardian of the Galaxy."
"I am Groot," Groot said sadly.
Peter nodded. "I hear you. Look, we're not exactly on our Gaurdianing tour right now, so could you just keep it to yourself?"
Her skin was a pale shade of green; too pale for a skrull; or maybe she was half-skrull. She tilted her head to one side and nodded seriously. "Whatever you wish, Star Lord."
"Peter," he corrected. "My name is Peter Quill."
She nodded again. Her hand gripped his elbow, and she moved closer. "Peter, then. Do you have a place to stay while you're here?"
Peter pulled away. "Not funny," he said, keeping his voice as firm as possible. "I'm old enough to be your father. You shouldn't be hitting on random men you don't know, anyway."
The woman laughed. "Really? Because from what I've heard, you've done a lot of hitting on random women you don't know. So is this a you're a man and I'm a woman and my sexual purity is my virtue, while your virility is yours?"
"No, it's an it's stupid thing to do, and I was very stupid in my younger years," Peter snapped back. "Take it from me. Not worth it. When you get to my age, all those trysts mean nothing. So how about you just take life more seriously and don't waste your time on flings that will only hurt you in the end."
"That sounds very bitter," the woman observed, unfazed. "But for your information, I wasn't suggesting that you come stay in my bed. I'm not attracted to fatherly figures. I merely was curious about where you were staying. I think my mother would like to meet you."
Peter rolled his eyes, although her spunk made him grin. "So you're setting me up with your mother?"
"Something like that. She'll be getting worried about me by this time, though, so I'd better head home." She smiled again and turned away. "If she wants to see you, we'll find you!"
"I'm sure you will," Peter muttered.
"I am Groot."
Peter shook himself and faced his friend. "I didn't understand that one."
Groot shrugged, and was distracted by another vender serving what looked like powered rats. His eyes lit up and he pointed excitedly, grinning back at Peter. Peter couldn't help but grin back. For all that had happened to them, Groot at least managed to stay happy. Maybe it was because his mind was small and didn't understand things, or maybe it was because he was really very wise and knew how to view happiness in a universe full of pain.
Peter reached for his wallet. And found nothing. Swearing loudly, he patted all his pockets. Empty. All of them. Swearing again, he searched the crowd in the direction that the woman had gone in. He saw nothing, but started after her anyway. Nobody picked his pocket and got away with it!
"I am Groot?"
Peter didn't reply; it should be obvious that Groot couldn't have a powdered rat! He ran as hard as he could, which was admittedly not as fast as he was twenty years ago. He left the market behind quickly, and found himself in most-deserted streets. Slowing to a walk, he looked around. She could have gone anywhere!
"Stupid!" He kicked a wall viciously. "Stupid, stupid, stupid. Groot!"
Groot stopped by his side, looking around. "I am Groot?"
"We lost our money. Back to the ship, we've got to figure this out." Peter turned, and as he did so several people stepped out onto the street in front of him. He tensed, taking in their blasters and knives. Great. Just what he needed. Some wannabe gangster types trying to mug him for money he didn't have. He held out his hands. "Hey, maybe you heard me, but I don't have any money. I just got robbed."
"What makes you think we want money?" the leader, a Kree, eyed him. "You don't recognise me, do you Star Lord?"
"My name is Peter, and no. I can't say I do." Peter narrowed his eyes. The Kree was heavily scarred. Burns. One eye was white, and the left side of his mouth drooped, like it had been melted. "I'm guessing we met at some point, though, judging by the way you're toying with that knife. Let me guess. I ruined your life?"
The Kree laughed. "I am going to enjoy killing you."
Peter rolled his eyes. "I have heard that before. Honestly, maybe you should just put down the knife and let us pass. See my friend? He's known as the tree of death in some parts."
Groot snarled, spines sprouting from his shoulders. His mass increased dramatically, which made the men blocking their path back up a step. Except for the Kree, who laughed.
"Not much good against fire though." He reached into his belt and pulled out a grenade. "Ready to go boom, Star Lord?"
"Peter, and seriously? You carry around grenades?" Pete shook his head in disbelief. "You know, go ahead. Whatever. I am sick and tired of people constantly wanting to kill me, so congratulations. You get to! It'd be doing me a favour!"
"I am Groot."
Peter whirled on him. "I don't care!"
There was a thump against Peter's boot. He looked down to see the grenade. Instantly he closed his eyes, waiting for the blast – but it didn't come. A strangled yelp made him open his eyes again. The woman from before was among the bandits. The Kree who had held the grenade was on the ground, eyes bulging, clutching his throat. Peter's jaw dropped as the grabbed the wrist of another bandit and kneed him in the elbow, making the man scream.
"A little help!" she shouted.
Peter shook himself out of his shock and jumped forward. He slammed a palm to the closest man's nose, then jabbed him in the chest twice with sharp punches. Groot roared and charged, knocking five of them off their feet. A fist came for Peter's face, but he dodged, the result being the punch landed on another assailant.
"This way!" the woman said, tugging on Peter's sleeve. They punched a man in unison and dodged down an alley. Groot thundered after them.
"Back to my ship," Peter said, grabbing her hand.
She yanked him left when he made to go right. "Nope."
Peter opened his mouth to argue, but she did have his Walkman, and she probably had a safe place closer, so he swallowed his protest and allowed her to pull him along. He was out of breath by the time they arrived, and they had taken so many turns that he was completely lost.
As he gasped for breath, Peter viewed the house the woman had led him to. It was big enough to four or five rooms on the inside. A clothesline hung outside, and brightly patterned dresses and shirts billowed in the wind. Smoke curled from the chimney, and all in all, it looked pretty cozy. In need of some repairs, if the cardboard in the windows were anything to go by, and a new paint job, but cozy.
Peter straightened, and after checking to make sure Groot was okay, he turned to the woman. "Thank you. I think you saved my butt back there."
"I know I did," she replied swiftly. "Most of those men have the death sentence on one planet or another. A dangerous place to get yourself lost in."
Peter smiled wryly. "Fair enough. So who exactly are you?"
"My name's Maddox. Call me Maddie and I'll rip out your tongue," she said pleasantly. "And now that you're here, you should meet my mom. Mom," she called over her shoulder. "We have visitors!"
The door opened, and a tired voice answered. "Maddox, who have you—"
Peter's jaw dropped. He felt like he couldn't breathe, and he couldn't do anything but stare. Her hair was greying, like his, but other than that and a few wrinkles, she hadn't changed. Gamora took a deep breath and closed the door to her house behind her.
"Hello, Peter."
